Seed-treating apparatus.



W. S. CHAMBERS.

SEED TREATING APPARATUS. APPLICATION mzo FEB. 11. I918- 1,293,034. Patented Feb. 4,1919.

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rrn s WILLIAM s. CHAMBERS, or COEUR IJALEN'E, iDAI-Io.

SEED-TREATING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 4, 1919.

Application filed February 11. 1918. Serial No. 216,589.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, VVILLIAM S. CHAM- nnns, a citizen of the United States, residing at Coeur dAlene, in the county of Kootenai "and State of Idaho, have invented certain wheat, oats and the like, whereby to elimimate the smut germ from the grain.

There are numerous devices for this purpose, but my object is to provide a device which is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, and one which will be more 'eflicient in every respect than previous grain treating devices.

One object of the invention is to provide a device by which it will be possible to use a minimum quantity of treating fluid, but at the same time efficiently and effectually treat the grain to rid same of the smut germ that is contained in much wheat available, especially in certain parts of the country.

With this and other objects in view my invention consists generally in the various constructions and combinations as hereinafter are more particularly described and pointed out in the specification and claims.

In-the accompanying drawing formlng a part of this specification- Figure 1 is an elevation partly in section of the device constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross section thercthrough taken upon the lines 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the feed reservoir and brush which places the fluid in contact with the grain.

In describing the invention I shall refer to the drawings in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which 10 designates the cylindrical casing or housing, 11 a suitable base for maintaining same in an upright position. Near one end of the housing, which will be termed the feed end, is located and attached a hopper 12 provided with a valve 13 for regulating the sup ly of grain to the casing 10. Mounted wit in the casing upon suitable journals on the ends thereof, I prOvide a spiral conveyer 14 and upon one end thereof extending outside the casing a crank member 15 with the handle 16 for rotating or revolving said conveyer. Arranged immediately adjacent the hopper 12 I provide a housing 17 upon the upper portion of the casing 10 of suitable dimensions to take care of a fluid feed member 18 and provide on said housing a hand screw or locking means 19 for fixedly positioning the member 18 and maintaining same in the proper adjustment.

The feed device, here illustrated at 18, consists of a reservoir 19 supporting brush members 20 which may be of steel wire or bristles and the formation of this brush is made to conform somewhat to the curvature of the conveyer flight within the casing. Upon the bottom of the reservoir 19 are numerous apertures 21 which allow the liquid to issue therethrough, drop by drop, and be conveyed along the brush bristles to the ends thereof. Communicating with this reservoir is a supply hose or pipe 22 extending to a tank 23 and provided with a valve 24: for feeding the proper quantity of fluid to the treating mechanism.

In treating grain such as wheat to remove the smut germ, it is necessary that the grain be immersed in or coated with a supply of a germicide such as vitriol which, for convenience, is provided in liquid form and which will have the tendency on contact with the grain to kill the germ and render the grain free of that fungus growth known as smut. At the same time it is necessary to carefully treat the grain to prevent destruction of the seed germ which is frequently accomplished by too strong a treatment, or a treatment carried over too great period of time. To provide a nicety of balance in this treatment and to conserve the supply of treating material which is rather expensive, the present device has been constructed and the operation of same is as follows:

When grain is fed through the hopper into the casing 10 and the spiral conveyer is rotated the grain will be propelled forward and the treating fluid will come in contact therewith by flowing from the ends of the brush bristles. The bristles extending somewhat into the path of the spiral area Within the casing, much in the manner that a spray of a liquid may be throWn from a brush as it is sWished through the an.

The action of the conveyer against the brush ends Will thoroughly distribute the fiuid over the grain and the action of the spiral conveyer as it passes the grain forward to the receiving end will cause the seed to be rotated so that all parts of it Will receive a supply of the treating fluid, but not a supply in excess to that Which is desired and Which is actually necessary for proper treatment. By regulating the speed of the conveyer a proper treatment of the seed may be'gained and if a greater or less quantity of fluid is required, manipulation of the valve 24: Will provide the desired amount. Also by reason of the'adjustable fastening 19 the reservoir 18 and brush 20 may be so located as to provide proper and efficient distribution of the fluid.

It is sometimesdesirable in treating seed.

grain that the solution be heated and when so desired may be accomplished by heating the tank containing the fluid 23 or by heating before depositing in said tank.

From the foregoing description of the construction of my device the operation thereof Will be readily understood and while I have particularly described the ele-.

ments best adapted to perform the function set. forth, it is obvious that various changes in form and proportion and in the minor details of construction may be resorted to Without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the principles of the invention.

Having thus described my invention hat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patcm is 1. The combination in a seed treating apparatus, a casing and its'hopperand a spiral conveyer in the casing, a liquid feeding reservoir adjustably mounted on the casing and having an 'apertured bottom comholding the reservoir inadjusted-position,

and brushes depending from the bottom of the reservoirinto the casing With their lower ends arranged on a curved line conforming to the curvature of the conveyer for the purpse described.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

WILLIAM S. CHAMBERS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each; by ad'dressing'the Gommissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. 

